The South African-born batsman quit last week after just three Tests in charge, claiming he couldn't work alongside coach Peter Moores who was sacked as a result of the row.

Amiss told BBC Radio Five here Sunday that Pietersen had initially offered his resignation as captain after last month's drawn second Test against India in Mohali, a result which meant England lost the two-match series 1-0.

"He mentioned resigning the captaincy in our discussions with him but we wanted him to go away and think about it while he was in South Africa (on holiday)," ex-England batsman Amiss said.

"We said, 'Go away and think about it and we will resolve the situation as quickly as we can'."

Pietersen, 28, told the News of the World on Sunday that several England players, including new skipper Andrew Strauss and ex-captain Andrew Flintoff, had urged him not to resign the captaincy while on tour in India.

"I confided in Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, as well as two other senior players, Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood, about my meetings with the management over the coach," Pietersen said.

"They all - 100 percent, I promise you categorically - said to me: 'Do not leave as England captain'."

Since losing the captaincy, star batsman Pietersen had repeatedly stressed his commitment to England and promised to support Strauss fully on the upcoming tour of the West Indies for which the squad departs on January 21.

However, he made no secret of the fact his relationship with Moores had wholly broken down.

"I feel it is right for me to go back and just play - to do something that I love, which is scoring runs for England," Pietersen said.

"I'm not angry. I'm just hurt, disappointed and upset that a childhood dream has been taken away from me."

Pietersen said he was about to head back from holiday to discuss future strategy with ECB chiefs David Collier and Hugh Morris when he received a call telling him he was losing the captaincy.

Following several earlier meetings with Morris and Collier he revealed he then sent an email in which "I said that I can't lead this team forward and take it to the West Indies if Peter Moores is coach."

Pietersen said he was stunned when Morris called to tell him an ECB emergency board meeting had accepted his resignation.

"I said: Excuse me?!' They said: We've accepted your resignation.' I said on what basis has it been accepted? They had no answer. Next, I received an email from the ECB saying: Your resignation is of immediate effect'."